The Wilderness of Zin was a desert region south of Judah where the Israelites encamped during their wilderness wanderings .
Zin refers to a desert and wilderness region located south of Judah, east of the Arabah, and west of Edom. During the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, they encamped in the Wilderness of Zin on the border of Edom (Num.20.1; 33:36). It was from here that Moses sent spies to explore the land of Canaan (Num.13.21). Later, Moses and Aaron rebelled against God's command to speak to the rock to bring forth water, instead striking it twice (Num.27.14). As a result, they were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. The Wilderness of Zin formed part of the southern border of the land allotted to Judah (Jos.15.1,3). It marked the extreme southern limit of the Promised Land (Num.34.3-4). The Wilderness of Zin is also associated with Kadesh (Num.33.36), a significant site during Israel's wilderness journey. The name "Zin" may be related to a Hebrew term meaning "flat" or "low," possibly referring to its lower elevation compared to the surrounding regions.
Approximate location: 30.688, 34.495 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
A low palm-tree, the south-eastern corner of the desert et-Tih, the wilderness of Paran, between the Gulf of Akabah and the head of the Wady Guraiyeh (Num. 13:21). To be distinguished from the wilderness of Sin (q.v.).
(flat), the name given to a portion of the desert tract between the Dead Sea, Ghor, and Arabah on the east, and the general plateau of the Tih which stretches westward. The country in question consists of two or three successive terraces of mountain converging to an acute single at the Dead Sea’s southern verge, toward which also they slope. Kadesh lay in it, and here also Idumea was conterminous with Judah; since Kadesh was a city in the border of Edom. [See Kadesh, Kadeshbarnea]. (Numbers 13:21; 20:1; 27:14; 33:36; 34:3; Joshua 15:1)
ZIN (a low palm tree). The wilderness of Zin was a part of the Arabian desert south of Palestine. Num 13:21-22; Jer 34:3. It joined the territory of Judah, Josh 15:1, Num 1:3; and lay west of Idumaea. Num 20:1; Eze 27:14; Num 33:36. Kadesh is sometimes spoken of as in the wilderness of Zin, Num 33:36, and again as in the wilderness of Paran. Num 13:26. This is explained by the fact that "Paran" was the general name for the whole desert of et-Tih, while Zin was the south-eastern corner of that desert, between the Gulf of Akabah on the south and the head of Wady Garaiyeh. It was south and south-west of 'Azazimeh Mountains, and east of the Ghor and Arabah. Zl'NA. See Zizah.
ZIN (a low palm tree). The wilderness of Zin was a part of the Arabian desert south of Palestine. Num 13:21-22; Jer 34:3. It joined the territory of Judah, Josh 15:1, Num 1:3; and lay west of Idumaea. Num 20:1; Eze 27:14; Num 33:36. Kadesh is sometimes spoken of as in the wilderness of Zin, Num 33:36, and again as in the wilderness of Paran. Num 13:26. This is explained by the fact that "Paran" was the general name for the whole desert of et-Tih, while Zin was the south-eastern corner of that desert, between the Gulf of Akabah on the south and the head of Wady Garaiyeh. It was south and south-west of 'Azazimeh Mountains, and east of the Ghor and Arabah. Zl'NA. See Zizah.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
9 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6790
So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.
In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.
They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.
Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,
cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon,
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence.
Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:
proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.